The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-27
THE FIGHTING THEY DID.
About that Official Record of Battles and the
SD Pa,

About tina; Official Record Of Battles and the
S3d Pa.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: ] notice some
hard shots fired at me regarding the Official
record of battles Of the Army of the Potomac,
published IN THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE OF Sept.
s, and the article on the SD Pa. of a few weeks
previous. great many comrades are COM
planning that their regiments are not accredited
with the number of battles in which they en-
gagged, and some claim that their regiments
were not noticed at all. But what desire TO
say is that the order is both official and
authoritative; that it was issued after careful
aud impartial investigation of the services and
losses of each regiment by board of eminent
general officers convened Tor that purpose, and
il must stand as the most reliable, or we may
say the only reliable, record Of the battles which
should he accredited 10 each regiment up to
that time-March z. 1865, about one month
previous TO Lees surrender. 1t is true some
regiments which fought brayely in the Army
of the Potomac are not mentioned at all, but as
far as i can learn such ones had been consoli-
dated with other regiments and were not then
i'm existence MS organizations. 1t is sufficient
TO say that the board was convened by the or
ders of Gen. Grant, and that its findings were
approved by the War Department and by Gen.
Meade the latter issuing the order in question.
IN THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE for Sept. 20
Comrade Lewis Maryill presumes TO correct the
record, and gives the battles OF some Michigan
regiments, by which one would naturally infer
that Michigan did ali the fighting. One regi-
ment of cavalry-the 4th-he says was in %
battles Aud then he says the 10th Mich. Inf.
was sprinkiing blood and bullets on 81 fields Of
carnagel The latter regiment was brigadcd
during the war with the SD Pa, and in reality
is credited by the War Department order with
four battles less than the SD Pa. As g regi-
ment could hardly be expected 10 take part in
twice as many battles as its fellow regiments
of the same brigade, OF equal service, Of course
such a statement is preposterous on its face
But where does Comrade Marvill get his
authortyp Instead of official sources, he con-
suits local history, Michigan in the War"
We all know that many local and State histories
are not altogether reliable on some statistical
points and that the authors are won't 10 give
undue credit 10 their State troops. For this
very reason il was wise in the Government al
the time mentioned TO issue, under Grant and
Meade's directions an official order giving credit
where it belonged; aud being issued at tho
very time when the records and services were
fresh and authentic, of course they cannot be
considered otherwise.
But "chestnuts" are often thrown by the
| boys at local historians, and they are. some o.
them, liable TO report every little skirmish
every chance shot fired on a picket-line, and
perchance every assault on hen roost or smoke
house, as a battle. IL the comrade (MarvilD vii
kindly give us list of the 81 battles fought
| by the 10th Mich, we are sure there are severa
hundred Of its readers, survivors of the OLE
Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corps, wh'
would be nightly interested in it, for the 44tl
| N. Y, SD Pa. and Goth Me- all served as
brigade during the war, and we would certainl,
like TO find out just how many aud what bat
ties we have all been cheated out of. {
HARRIS, SD Pa, Yenango, Pa.